Arcadia II placed on historic register list

Management at Corinna was informed in February 2009 of the inclusion of the legendary Arcadia II in the Australian register of Historic Vessels.

The Curator of the Australian Register of Historic Vehicles, David Payne, informed staff at Corinna that the Arcadia had been recently nominated by their Council.

This is a fitting tribute to the vessel and to the people who have dedicated themselves to her maintenance over the last 70 years.

Built in 1939 in Hobart, the Arcadia II had a colourful past before settling on the banks of the Pieman River in 1970, where she has been in active service ever since.

Before being brought to Corinna as a river cruiser by the Ellis Brothers in 1970, the Arcadia II operated as a pleasure craft around Hobart, as a fishing vessel on the east coast, as a cruiser at Strahan and as a supply vessel in the Second World War.

After this period, the Royal Australian Navy sold the Arcadia to a private buyer in 1956 for 600 pounds.

In 2008, the owners of the Arcadia organised for the vessel to negotiate the journey in and out of the treacherous Pieman Head to undergo extensive refurbishment at Launceston. Today, the Arcadia is in pristine condition, providing guests at Corinna Wilderness Experience an intimate experience with the Pieman River and the Tarkine rainforest, on the daily return cruise to Pieman Head.

We have little doubt that the Arcadia will still be cruising when she brings up her centenary in 2039.

The entry of the Arcadia II on the historic register can be seen at www.anmm.gov.au – if you would like to experience the Arcadia II for yourself, you can find more information on our river cruises here.